Container



Feb., l5, E966 A. w. wHlTToN, JR., ETAL 3,235,111

CONTAINER Filed April v, 1964 y J5 j@ g l i "5 jam@ ZEW/d United States Patent j O 3,235,111 CONTAINER Aldean W. Whitton, Jr., Glenview, and Jack N. Widick, Northbrook, Ill., assiguors to American Hospital Supply Corporation, Evanston, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Apr. 7, 1964, Ser. No. 358,021 7 Claims. (Cl. 21S-1) This invention relates to a container,` and more specifically, to a container particularly suited for laboratory use in handling and analyzing liquid specimens.

An object of the present invention is to provide an economical fluid-specimen container which is completely incinerable and which is intended to be discarded or destroyed after use. Another object is to provide a specimen container of stable shape having a tapered neck through which the liquid contents may be readily poured or removed by means of a pipette, dropper, or swab. A further object is to provide a specimen container having an improved spout construction for directing an accurately controlled stream of liquid from the container when its contents are poured therefrom. ,j A still further object is to provide a disposable and incinerable container which cooperates with removable closure means to hold such means in place even when the closed container is tipped or moved about.

Other objects will appear from the specilication and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the container;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the container illustrating the same in tipped condition for the pipetting of liquid therefrom;

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3; Y

FIGURE 5 is a broken enlarged sectional View illustrating the cooperative relationship between the mouth of the container and a standard bottle cap;

FIGURE 6 is a broken enlarged sectional view illustrating the cooperative relationship between the mouth of the container and a modified bottle cap.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates a plastic container having side walls 11, a mouth 12, and a base or bottom Wall 13. While lany suitable and incinerable plastic material may be used, blow-molded polyethylene or polypropylene has been found particularly effective.

The lower portion 14 of the container is of rectangular cross section and is generally frusto-pyramidicalin shape, merging at its top with a short neck portion 15. The neck portion is of complex contour since it joins both the circular-shaped mouth 12 and lthe rectangular lower portion 14. The upwardly tapered -construction of the container and its rectangular pyramidical shape facilitates storage and handling. In addition, the wide base gives the tapered container great stability when filled or partially filled with liquid.

One or more of the side walls 11 of the container may be provided with graduation markings 16 to indicate the level of the fluid contents of the container. Each of the sides of the containers lower portion are relatively flat with adjacent sides merging in rounded and elongated edge portions or corners 17. The straight edge portions 17, because of their relatively sharp transverse curvature, act as reinforcing or stili'ening ribs for the container and result in a thin plastic container of relatively high structural rigidity for its mass.

Along one side edge portion 17 of the container adjacent the neck thereof is a lateral bulge or enlargement 18 which defines an internal Well 19 (FIGURE 3). It

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will be observed that the depth of the well measured from the containers longitudinal `axis is substantially greater than the radius of mouth 12. Therefore, when the container is tipped as shown in FIGURE 3, well 19 will be filled with the liquid contents 20 before the container has been tipped sufficiently far to cause spilling. Since the Well terminates immediately adjacent the mouth 12, a pipette 21, or any other instrument such as a dropper, swab, or colorimetric indicator, may be easily dipped into the liquid which is contained within the well and which is clearly visible through the containers open mouth.

The location of the Well along a side edge portion 17 facilitates the ow of liquid into the well, especially when the container is nearly empty.` Thus, when the container is tipped to till the well, liquid will readily drain down the at sloping side walls of the container and then along the channel defined by the edge portion into well 19.

Along the side edge portion diametrically or diagonally opposite from well 19 is a pour spout 22. The spout is formed partly as an internal groove created by an enlargement 23 extending outwardly and longitudinally along the containers neck portion. As indicated in FIG- URES 1, 2 and 4, the depth of the channel or groove measured from the containers longitudinal axis is substantially greater than the internal radius of the neck 15 excluding well 19. Like the location of well 19, the edge location of spout 22 contributes to the collection of all liquid within the container, and further, tends to direct a controlled stream of liquid through the containers mouth.

The mouth of the container includes an annular shoulder 24 which is provided with a notch 25 communicating `with channel or spout 22. An opstanding rim 26 projects upwardly from the outer limits of the shoulder and, as shown most clearly in FIGURES 3 and 5, is inclined upwardly and inwardly to provide a slight constriction or narrowing at the upper end of the mouth. In other words, the internal opening 27 dened by rim 26 at the upper end thereof is slightly smaller than the internal dimension `ofthe rim adjacent shoulder 24. The size of the opening immediately adjacent the shoulder is in turn slightly smaller than the diameter of a conventional bottle cap 28. Since the rim slopes inwardly, the cap, thrust into position by a centrally and downwardly applied force, is held tightly in place by a snap tit. The ibrous material from which the cap is formed is sufficiently resilient to permit slight elastic compression of the cap and this compression, combined with the tendency of the centrally-depressed cap to return to a liat condition, results in a liquid-tight seal between the parts. Since lifting of the cap will cause even greater compression thereof because of the rims inward slope, the parts cooperate to hold the cap firmly in place.

Cap 2S is preferably formed from paperboard and is entirely conventional. If desired, however, other resilient and ilexible` materials such as plastics may be used.

FIGURE 6 illustrates the cooperative relationship between container 10 and a plastic cap 29 which ts downwardly about the rim 26 at the mouth of the container. As shown in the drawings, cap 29 is of inverted cup shape and is provided with an enlarged bead 30 about its open end. The diameter of the opening dened by the bead is slightly smaller than the maximum external diameter of rim 26 and, therefore, as the plastic cap is fitted into position its beaded side wall will tend to stretch or expand outwardly until the bead passes below the external formation 31 of shoulder 24. Since the plastic of the cap is stretchable at least to a limited extent, the cap will tend to snap and lock in the position illustrated and will resist unseating by the force of lluid impinging on its undersurface as the container is moved about. While any suitable resilient and stretchable plastic material may be used for the cap 29, polyethylene has been found particularly satisfactory.

While it is preferred that the container be manufactured by a blow molding process for greatest economy and to provide the required strength and clarity, other processes might be employed. Where a blow molding process is utilized, all of the features mentioned, including the graduations and any other markings, may be incorporated without secondary shaping or marking operations, although printed graduations might be used if desired.

While in the foregoing an embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in considerable detail for purposes of illustration, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many of these details may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A container having a base and having upwardly and inwardly sloping and tapering side walls terminating in an upwardly-facing open mouth, said container being of generally rectangular horizontal cross section, and a spout comprising an internal longitudinal groove extending along a side edge of said container between a pair of adjacent side walls and terminating at said open mouth, said mouth being circular and being provided with an annular shoulder, said shoulder being provided with an internal notch communicating with said groove, said mouth being provided with an annular rim projecting upwardly from the outer limits of said shoulder, and said rim sloping inwardly to hold a resilient closure cap upon said shoulder.

2. A container having a base and having upwardly and inwardly sloping and tapering side walls terminating in an upwardly-facing open mouth, said container being of generally rectangular horizontal cross section, a spout comprising an internal longitudinal groove extending along a side edge of said container between a pair of adjacent side walls and terminating at said open mouth, said mouth being circular and being provided with an annular shoulder, said shoulder being provided with an internal notch communicating with said groove, said mouth being provided with an annular rim, said rim being undercut to provide an external annular shoulder for retaining the head of a resilient closure cap fitted over said mouth.

3. A plastic one-piece container having a base and having a frusto-pyramidical body portion merging with said base, said body portion having substantially planar and upwardly tapering side walls, a neck portion merging with the upper end of said body portion and terminating in an upwardly-opening mouth, said body being provided with internal upwardly-extending channels at the junctions of the side walls thereof, said neck being provided with an internal upwardly-extending groove longitudinally aligned and communicating with one of said channels to provide a spout for directing the flow of fluid from said container when the same is tipped, said upwardly-opening mouth being circular in shape at its upper end and being provided at said upper end with an internal annular shoulder, said shoulder being provided with a notch communicating with said groove.

4. The structure of claim 3 in which said mouth is provided with an annular rim projecting upwardly and inwardly from the outer limits of said shoulder for receiving and holding a resilient closure cap upon said shoulder.

5. A plastic container having a base and having a frusto-pyramidical body portion merging with said base,

said body portion having substantially planar and upwardly-tapering side walls, a neck portion merging with the upper end Iof said body portion and terminating in an upwardly-opening mouth, said body portion being rectangular in horizontal cross section and dening internal channels along the junctions of the planar side walls thereof, said container being provided adjacent said mouth with a lateral enlargement dening an internal well communicating directly with one of said channels, said well being of limited width and merging along arcuate merge lines with the side walls of said container immediately adjacent said one channel, whereby, said container may be tipped to cause liquid to ilow into said well for access through said mouth, the depth of said well measured from the longitudinal axis of said container being substantially greater than the radius of said mouth.

6. A plastic container having a base and having a frusto-pyramidical body portion merging with said base, said body portion having substantially planar and upwardly-tapering side walls, a neck portion merging with the upper end of said body portion and terminating in an upwardly-opening mouth, said body portion being rectangular in horizontal cross section and dening internal channels along the junctions of the planar side walls thereof, said container being provided adjacent said mouth with a lateral enlargement dening an internal well communicating directly with one of said channels, said well being of limited width and merging along arcuate merge lines with the side walls of said container immediately adjacent said one channel, said container being provided with an internal longitudinal groove opposite from said well, said groove dening an internal spout for pouring liquid from said container, said neck being provided with an internal annular shoulder spaced below said mouth, and said shoulder being provided with a notch therein communicating with said groove of said spout.

7. A plastic container having a base and having a frustopyramidical body portion merging with said base, said body portion having substantially planar and upwardlytapering side walls, a neck portion merging with the upper end of said body portion and terminating in an upwardly-opening mouth, said body portion being rectangular in horizontal cross section and defining internal channels along the junctions of the planar side walls thereof, said container being provided adjacent said mouth with a lateral enlargement dening an internal well communicating directly with one of said channels, said well being of limited width and merging along arcuate merge lines with the side walls of said container immediately adjacent said one channel, whereby, said container may be tipped to cause liquid to flow into said well f-or access through said mouth, said container being provided with an internal longitudinal groove opposite from said well, said groove dening an internal spout for pouring liquid from said container, said neck being undercut to provide an external annular shoulder spaced below said mouth for retaining the bead of a resilient closure cap fitted over said mouth.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,930,162 10/1933 Eckard 21S-3l 2,059,910 ll/ 1936 Ravenscroft 215-31 3,013,686 12/1961 Blunt 215-1 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Examiner. 

1. A CONTAINER HAVING A BASE AND HAVING UPWARDLY AND INWARDLY SLOPING AND TAPERING SIDE WALLS TERMINATING IN AN UPWARDLY-FACING OPEN MOUTH, SAID CONTAINER BEING OF GENERALLY RECTANGULAR HORIZONTAL CROSS SECTION, AND A SPOUT COMPRISING AN INTERNAL LONGITUDINAL GROOVE EXTENDING ALONG A SIDE EDGE OF SAID CONTAINER BETWEEN A PAIR OF ADJACENT SIDE WALLS AND TERMINATING AT SAID OPEN MOUTH, SAID MOUTH BEING CIRCULAR AND BEING PROVIDED WITH AN ANNULAR SHOULDER, SAID SHOULDER BEING PROVIDED WITH AN INTERNAL NOTCH COMMUNICATING WITH SAID GROOVE, SAID MOUTH BEING PROVIDED WITH AN ANNULAR RIM PROJECTING UPWARDLY FROM THE OUTER LIMITS OF SAID SHOULDER, AND SAID RIM SLOPING INWARDLY TO HOLD A RESILIENT CLOSURE CAP UPON SAID SHOULDER. 